Creating Subassemblies

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

I'm definitely a beginner with Fusion360, been using it less than six months, and I have a question about forming sub assemblies. My problem is exactly what is discussed here: http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/design-validate-document/creating-subassemblies/m-p/5642305#M24423

I cannot move components into other components to create the structure that I'm after. I have (to the best of my knowledge) ensured that all components are rolled completely forward in the timeline, and I was able to verify that I can move components into other components in a separate test file. I'm sure it's something simple, but what am I missing here? Any ideas? The attached screencast shows the top level component activated, and the timeline rolled completely forward while I try to form a subassembly. 

[TrippyLighting]

Please share your model!

[Mike.Grau]

Hi @Anonymous,

Thank you for posting your question in the Forum.

Unfortunately, there is no screen cast attached to your Post.

Could you may edit your post and add the link to screen cast?

You could "Save Copy As" of your component and re-insert it into your assembly?

Thanks,

[Anonymous]

Sorry about that. Screencast is located here: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/community/screencast/904a86cd-5fd6-4d44-957d-c498450ed7e3

[Anonymous]

Here is a copy of the model

[TrippyLighting]

This advice has nothing to do with the problem you are experiencing (at least i don;t think so) , however I will mention it anyway.

As you are continuing on your design, you will notice that the timeline will become increasingly difficult to manage.

The number of unnamed sketches in your top level sketch folder will grow and it will be increasingly difficult to figure out what sketch was used to create what body.

Clearly you follow a workflow that first creates sketches, then creates geometry based on those sketches and the creates components from those bodies.

The advice Mike Grau gave of exporting the component and then re-importing it into an assembly will hold a easy surprise, as the components you have created do not contain all the sketches, construction geometry etc. that were used to create the components. As such, an exported component will contain only a "dumb" solid body but none of the parametric history that was used to create it.

If the above is not already getting in your way, going forward it certainly will!

When designing with components you should follow 2 rules;

Fusion 360 R.U.L.E #1

Before doing anything, create a component and make sure it's activated.

All objects created after activating the component such as sketches, bodies, construction geometry, joint origins, etc.  are created in that component.

This has several advantages:

1. On activation the timeline is filtered to show only those items in the timeline that pertain to that component. That will make the quickly growing timeline much easier to work with.
2. If a component is exported to the data panel with "save as" this will also export the complete parametric design history.
3. Drawings can only be created from components
4. The joints in the "Assemble menu only work with components.

When another component needs to be edited for example to add geometry, it should be activated before doing so.

Fusion 360 R.U.L.E #2

Name your stuff.

[Anonymous]

TrippyLighting-

Thanks for the advise. I definitely understand and can appreciate the two rules. I'll be making an effort, moving forward, to lay out my design that way-- it will definitely save lots of time and headache. Really no excuse on my end, just jumped into using Fusion with out learning much about it...

Any more ideas for the problem at hand? Sort of damage control with my disorganization, but it would really help if I could do some cleanup and structure my component layout a bit more.

[TrippyLighting]

No, unfortunately not. At the moment I am a little puzzled myself as in your current model it seems you can not move any component anywhere disabling you from reorganizing anything 😕

[Anonymous]

Alrighty. Well hey thanks for looking at it! I'll do some more playing and see if I can figure it out.